Alabama football earned a massive road win on Saturday, knocking off Georgia 24-21 to thrust itself back in the College Football Playoff race. It was a great night for Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide, but it came at a significant cost.
Star Wolf LB Qua Russaw left the game in the first quarter with a lower-body injury and did not return. The update on Sunday is that Russaw will undergo surgery and miss some time, though how much is not yet known:
One negative for Alabama coming out of its win over Georgia:
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) September 28, 2025
Starting linebacker Qua Russaw is undergoing surgery today due to a foot injury he suffered last night and is set to miss some time, sources tell @CBSSports.https://t.co/nwzgADsQyx pic.twitter.com/fzXkJngovm
Russaw is Alabama's starting Wolf LB and one of the team's best edge rushers. Not only that, but his ability to set the edge in the run game is an underrated part of his game that will be sorely missed moving forward. Alabama struggled in that area against Georgia, allowing the Bulldogs to rush for over 200 yards.
Alabama's defensive injuries this year have had a habit of piling up at the same position groups consecutively.
Alabama lost starting nose tackle Tim Keenan to a high-ankle sprain before the first game. One week later, his backup, Jeremiah Beaman, suffered a season-ending injury. Before Russaw went down against Georgia, his co-starter at Wolf, Jah-Marien Latham, suffered a scary neck injury in practice and has been hospitalized in Birmingham since.
Alabama's depth at Wolf LB will be tested moving forward
Pass rush isn't likely to be much of a concern without Russaw, as redshirt sophomore Yhonzae Pierre is probably even better at rushing than Russaw. Pierre leads the team in pressures so far this season. But Russaw is more of a complete player, and Pierre is going to have to step up against the run, and at times, dropping back into coverage.
Behind Pierre are a couple of unproven youngsters who will have to take on increased roles. True freshman Justin Hill and redshirt freshman Noah Carter are next in line at Wolf, and both will see more playing time in the coming weeks.
The coaching staff is high on both of those guys, but Russaw's absence will be felt immediately. Alabama struggled mightily to set a good edge last season against Vanderbilt, and the Dores will look to find the same success this year in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide will have to do so without its two best at it in Russaw and Latham.